The Borough Council hereby establishes the Perkasie Borough Historical Committee.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Perkasie 12-15-2025 by Ord. No. 1068. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of establishing the Historical Committee is to promote the preservation and protection of historic resources in Perkasie Borough ("Borough"), since doing so enhances the interests of education, property values, and the general welfare of the citizens of the Borough. The specific purposes of this chapter are as follows:
A.
To protect the integrity of the historic resources of Perkasie Borough;
B.
To establish a process by which proposed changes to historic resources are reviewed by Perkasie Borough;
C.
To encourage the continued, viable use of historic resources in Perkasie Borough;
D.
To discourage the unnecessary demolition of historic resources in Perkasie Borough; and
E.
To maintain the property rights of Perkasie Borough.
The Perkasie Borough Historical Committee shall consist of five members, all of whom shall be residents of the Borough, or who conduct and operate a business in Perkasie Borough. The Historical Committee shall be appointed by Borough Council, and the membership of the Historical Committee shall, to the extent possible, include individuals who have an interest in history, archeology, or historic preservation. The terms of members of the Historical Committee shall be four years, except that the terms of the members newly appointed at the time of the adoption of this chapter shall be fixed so that the first new member shall be appointed to a one-year term, the second new member shall be appointed to a two-year term, the third new member shall be appointed to a three-year term, and the fourth and fifth new members shall be appointed to four-year terms. The Mayor of Perkasie shall act as an ex officio member but shall not have voting rights. Members shall serve without compensation. Vacancies occurring other than by the expiration of a term shall be for the unexpired term and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointees.
Members of the Historical Committee shall elect a Chairperson and Secretary and select all necessary Officers to serve for a period of one year. Perkasie Borough Council may adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of all business within the jurisdiction of the Historical Committee. The Chairperson shall help direct the activities of the Historical Committee. A majority of Members in attendance at a meeting of the Historical Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Historical Committee may make, alter, and rescind rules and forms for its procedures consistent with the ordinances of the Borough and laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To the extent necessary, the Borough Solicitor shall act as counsel to the Historical Committee. The Historical Committee shall comply, in every respect, with Pennsylvania law, including the Sunshine Law,[1] Open Meetings Law,[2] Ethics Act,[3] and the like. On an annual basis, on or before March 31 of each calendar year, the Historical Committee shall submit a report of its activities to Borough Council.
The Historical Committee shall:
A.
Advise the Borough on the update and revision to the Comprehensive Plan, including drafting a historic preservation plan as required under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, pursuant to Article III, Section 301(6).
B.
Advise on the nomination of significant resources to the National Register of Historic Places and any other appropriate lists or programs.
C.
Make recommendations, in writing, to Borough Council concerning revisions, updates, or corrections to a historic resource map or inventory on an annual basis or more frequently as deemed necessary by the Historical Committee. The map or inventory shall conform to standards recommended by the Pennsylvania State Historical Commission.
D.
Maintain an updated list which clearly identifies buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts and their respective classifications on a historic resource map or inventory. The list shall conform to standards recommended by the Pennsylvania State Historical Commission.
E.
Advise the Zoning Officer and Borough Council on the issuance of demolition permits for historic resources.
F.
Review and comment, and where necessary make recommendations on subdivision or land development applications which include historic resources, in accordance with the requirements of the Perkasie Borough Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance,[1] and the Municipalities Planning Code.
G.
Collect and disseminate data and information on matters of historic significance in Perkasie Borough.
H.
Publish pamphlets and reports designating historic sites or buildings of significant value to the history of Perkasie Borough.
I.
Cooperate with any qualified historical society in investigations of historical matters relating to Perkasie Borough.
J.
Recommend to Borough Council a suitable depositary and display of historical papers, documents and relics.
K.
Advise Borough Council and/or the Zoning Hearing Board on all requests for conditional uses, special exceptions, or variances involving historic resources.
L.
Review applications for the rehabilitation, enlargement, or alteration of historic resources and advise Borough Council with respect thereto.
M.
To make recommendations to Borough Council, as permitted by law under Section 1202 of the Pennsylvania Borough Code, which respect to the appropriation of any funds of the Borough for the observation of any holidays or centennials, or other anniversaries for Borough celebrations or other civic projects or programs.
N.
Advise Borough Council on Historic Preservation awards, historical markers, military banners, and other efforts to foster awareness and appreciation of the Borough's history, including efforts to celebrate Borough's anniversaries.
O.
The Committee may utilize volunteers to assist Committee members in accomplishing the activities listed above and any other activities that the Committee undertakes.
The Historical Committee shall not be authorized to spend any funds in the absence of approval for same by Borough Council. Furthermore, the Historical Committee shall be advisory in nature and shall have no authority to make any decisions with respect to issues associated with the Historical Committee's directions within the Borough, as that responsibility rests solely with Borough Council.
The Historical Committee shall hold an organizational meeting in January of each year. Officers as noted previously in this chapter shall be elected at the organizational meeting. All meetings of the Historical Committee shall be advertised to the public in accordance with the provisions of the Sunshine Act.
The Historical Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and activities and shall, on occasion, as requested, make oral and other written reports to the Borough Council, aside from the annual report noted previously. Minutes, at the minimum, shall include those persons in attendance at the meeting, Motions made by members of the Historical Committee, as well as any recommendations. The minutes shall be provided to the Borough Manager.
Borough Council may appoint one member of Borough Council as a liaison to the Historical Committee.
Neither the Historical Committee nor any of its members shall have the authority to enter any contracts without the approval of Borough Council, to the extent same would impose any liability on the Borough.
If any section, provision, or portion of this chapter shall be held invalid or unconstitutional by any Court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect any other section, clause, provision, or portion of this chapter so long as it remains legally enforceable minus the invalid portion. The Borough reserves the right to amend this chapter or any portion thereof from time to time as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the promotion of the purposes and intent of this chapter, and the effective administration thereof.